It was halftime of the biggest game of the year. Against Clemson. The star quarterback was in sweatpants serving a suspension and the No. 1 Florida State Seminoles were down 10-3 to their Atlantic Division rivals.

So Greene, who had just one catch for four yards at half, decided it wasn't just time to speak up – something he rarely does anyway – it was time to shout. Which is exactly what he did in the locker room, imploring his momentarily stunned teammates to play harder, smarter, better.

It was an emotional outburst from Greene they had never seen before.

It resonated.

"Rashad's not a man of many words," said Sean Maguire, who started at quarterback that night. "But he just stood up and called everyone out and told everyone what the deal was and how everyone had to start waking up — 'This is the season right here.'

"And I think everyone just turned on the switch in the second half."

Especially the one who was doing the shouting.

In the final two quarters Greene caught eight passes for 131 yards, including a game-tying 74-yarder with 6:04 left. It was just another in a long line of big-time plays in big-time moments for the star receiver.

"I don't know if it's a clutch gene or it's the power-of-preparation gene," FSU head coach Jimbo Fisher said. "The guy prepares for moments like that. He practices like that. He trains and thinks like that. He gets the players around him to think like that.

"This is not just a big-moment situation. That's the way he lives his life every day."

This is Rashad Greene.

It's 2012. The Seminoles are in the middle of a 12-2 season and Greene is on his way to being Florida State's leading receiver for the second straight year. But another teammate is struggling.

Bobby Hart, who won championships with Greene at St. Thomas Aquinas in Fort Lauderdale, was not playing well in practice and not playing at all in games. He was admittedly frustrated and was having a hard time dealing with his backup role after starting for the Seminoles as a true freshman in 2011.

So Greene decided it was time to have a talk.

"He sat me down," Hart said, "And was like, 'Why did you come here? Are you happy with what you're doing?' And he told me if I wanted it I just needed to work harder. He talked to me and let me know there was more stuff I could have been doing that I wasn't doing and that I needed to mature.

"And ever since then I feel like I've been doing pretty good. I appreciate him for that."

Although he's a fellow college student, Florida State teammates admitted Greene has always seemed like the grown-up in the locker room. He comes across as an "old soul," like someone who has lived a lot more life than just two decades' worth.

"I've always gotten that comment — that I'm an old man," Greene said with a smile. "That's not the first time I've heard that. It's just my personality and my upbringing. … I've always been a pretty smart, mature person. And I've always made great decisions."

This is Rashad Greene.

He's sitting on a bench outside the Florida State athletic center one afternoon last month. The subject of his father comes up. He doesn't squirm, doesn't interrupt the question. Doesn't hesitate. He talks about it openly. Honestly.

His father, Gregory, was arrested in their hometown of Albany, Georgia for possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute. One day after his son scored a pivotal touchdown in the Seminoles' 2013 Orange Bowl win over Northern Illinois. He wound up being sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Greene was asked if he had any anger or resentment toward his dad.

"Not at all," he said. "When you understand a person, you understand their reason for doing things and knowing it wasn't the reason that most people do it — it's a totally different ballgame. Not saying what he did was right, and he knows it wasn't right, but the reason he was doing it was for his family's well-being. It wasn't for attention.

"Everything he did was for us. So that set it all apart. So no, at the end of the day I'm not disappointed. It was a mistake that I'm sure will never happen again and he'll learn from."

The two still have a very close relationship, Greene said. They talk multiple times a week. He's not about to stop being his father's son just because his father is in a Georgia jail cell. That's not who Rashad Greene is.

"My father is my best friend," he said. "That's who I like to call 'my main man.' He's everything to me. He and my mom (Cassandra) are. They taught me what it meant to be a family. … Nothing in the world means more to me than my father."

This is Rashad Greene.

It's the middle of practice. In the middle of the week. In the middle of his senior season. And Greene, who at this point already owns virtually every career receiving record in Florida State history, is running his routes as if it's the final drive of the national championship game.

He doesn't take plays off. Ever. Not even in practice.

"I've learned a lot from him just by observing him," said sophomore kicker Roberto Aguayo. "Just how he leads. He doesn't lead vocally. He does it on the field and he does it with actions. That's how he is. That's how he's been since I got here."

According to Greene, it's a work ethic he comes by naturally.

"For the most part I've always been this way," said Greene, the youngest of four boys. "Growing up it was just something my parents just taught us. How to work hard and be serious about the right things. And I just love my family and I love playing football. So I put a lot of it into those two things."

What Terrance Smith notices even more than the work habits is the way Greene carries himself on the field. The Florida State linebacker said he's not like most receivers. He doesn't care about accolades and he certainly doesn't care to tell people how good he is.

Greene knows they know. And if they don't they can just look at the FSU record book, where his name is atop virtually every single category.

"I call him 'Mr. Clutch' because anytime we need a play he's there to make it," Smith said. "And he doesn't care about attention. He's not a flashy guy. Usually the guys who play that position are flashy guys, the so-called divas. He's not one of those guys.

"He's humble. He's going to make the catch. He's going to get up and go on to the next play."

This is Rashad Greene.

He's about to play in his final game as a Florida State Seminole. If it's not in the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day it will be 11 days later in Dallas. He's going to leave a legend. With three ACC Championship rings, at least one national championship ring, and a highlight reel full of big-time plays in big-time moments.

"He's a money player," Fisher said.

In fact, even more than the astronomical numbers, that will be his legacy in Tallahassee.

But he's got another one, too.

In October, his son was born.

And the "old man" who seemed like a father figure to many for much of his adult life became an actual father.

"It's an indescribable feeling, man," Greene said. "Just knowing someone belongs to you and you created this human who will always love you and you'll always love him. There's no better feeling."

The guy who has never in his life cared about being THE man then went on to talk about what it means to be A man.

"It's about taking care of your responsibilities," Greene said. "Having your priorities in check. Taking care of your family. And being a family man. Being an example to young kids. And your own kids. Now that I have a son I definitely have to be an example to him and make sure he's taken care of. That's my responsibility.